The Dhakaani Empire was a massive goblinoid nation that dominated most of Khorvaire over a period extending from about 15,000 years ago to about 5000 years ago. They fought a war against invaders from Xoriat, the plane of madness, called the Daelkyr. They joined forces with a group of Orc druids that would become called the Gatekeepers. This war raged on for millennia and the Daelkyr were eventually defeated by the combined forces of the Dhakaani Empire and the Gatekeepers. However, the war exhausted the resources of goblins. The Daelkyr were thousands of years into their fight with the incredible…
Working with Dad Gets Me into Goblin Culture
My Intro to Kech Volaar (e.g., Coolest Goblinoids on the Planet) Barrakas – Rhaan, 990 YK There are some cool people I got to meet going out with dad and Trees and I really did learn a lot about surviving in the jungle, fighting for my life both face-to-face and from a nice hidden position, and how to keep an eye out for danger in general. One of my favorites was the time we were hired on by a couple Dhakaani hobgoblins, Jhazaali, a duur’kala, or “dirge singer” and Tariic (the glory seeker and singer of his own praises). They…
A Trip to Titan’s Teeth (Almost)
Trees Doesn’t Like Giants
Dad’s Job is Fun but Dangerous (Which Just Means More Fun)
Now we get to my time training alongside my father. This is where I got to learn more about different cultures hands-on, and how my interest in anthropology blossomed. Also helped me to hone my survival skills and hiding. Sometimes it’s waaay better to hide than fight, especially when even dad and uncle Trees tell the group to get scarce. I went on quite a few jobs with him and as my skills got better, I got to go deeper and deeper into the jungle. Now, Xen’drik is huge. I know people on Khorvaire think it’s tough to get all-around…
Geez, My Aunts Know How to Keep a Person Busy
That’s Right, I Said Zapoo I also got to help with guarding a Lyrandar captain, a halfling merchant who was transporting a few wagons full of expensive textiles from the dyeworks to his ship, and a couple Tairnadal elves who were in town to meet with a clan member of theirs named Zapoo. I’d heard of him and even got to read a couple of his essays, later on, that talked of his adventures in Xen’drik. A little contrived but a decent read. Wish I’d gotten a chance to talk to him, but I didn’t know about his writings until…
My Continuing Work with Butterfly and Thunder
Half-Orcs are Tough Cool and Aereni are Creepy Cool The elves we worked for were from Aerenal and had those skeleton tattoos on their faces. They were doin’ some negotiating with House Tharashk for some Siberys dragonshards and I got to see Ront again. I also got to hear a bit of the negotiations while standin’ around watching out for any funny biz. The Aereni are an odd lot. Sorry I haven’t gotten a chance to head over there and learn more about ‘em, but one day.
Butterfly, Thunder, and a Bar Fight
A Dragonmarked House Can Get Away with Murder The half-orcs from House Tharashk didn’t seem like they needed bodyguards but that’s when I learned it’s always good to have locals with you in a fight. See, the half-orcs, Ront, Shrump, and Myev, were from Khorvaire and weren’t always the friendliest crew. One night we escorted them to the Wavecrest Tavern since they’d heard about the weekly arm-wrestling tournament there. Thunder and Butterfly take up positions on either side of the room where they can keep their eyes on things. I’m told to rove around the room, also keeping an eye…
Butterfly and Thunder, Makes You Wunder
Aunts Thunder and Butterfly hire out as bodyguards. They contract under House Deneith and do well for themselves. You wouldn’t believe how many VIP types want a twin pair of Tabaxi warrior women escorting them around. It doesn’t hurt that they are both thought to be very beautiful, stand as tall as I do today (6’-6”), and can wrestle a half-giant to the ground. This is where Brook absolutely excelled. She’s the spitting image of the two of them. Well, build-wise. Brook has all white fur (as opposed to my blue/gray) and my aunts have longer length fur that some…
My Fascination with String Gets Worse
Aunt Bright works in the dyeworks. These days she’s a supervisor of some sort but back then she was still working directly with the dyes and textiles. I can’t really say I gave this a good try because the smell of that place is kinda overwhelming. They let me stay outside to hang the dyed fabrics up on the higher lines since I’m a pretty good climber and didn’t have to keep moving the ladder as much since I could just go up the walls. Still, this did NOT work out for me. I did manage to get a full…
TLDR – I Don’t Cook
Aunt Nails is a cook. I didn’t really care for that either. The tastings were always good, but I didn’t really care for being stuck in a kitchen all day.
I’m Not Made for Hauling Stone (or Carving It)
Then there was the time I spent with grandma Rainbows and grandpa Waterfall. They’re both stonemasons/sculptors and are really good at what they do. I got okay at laying blocks but never really had the artistic knack for sculptures and detail work. Plus, I’m not really that strong. It’s hard work hauling stone around. Brook did much better with them. Not only can she build a brick house, but she’s built like one too. Heh heh. Just so you know, Brook is a hulking brute. Same height as me but she’s got muscles like Aunts Thunder and Butterfly. Well, maybe…
Nobody Lies Better Than Mom
I enjoyed a lot of things. Working with my mother was fun as I got to interact with a lot of different people. I also had to go along with mom’s lie that “I had the sight” and was working with her to expand the potential of my visions. I’m okay at lying but I wouldn’t say it’s really my forte. And it makes me a little uncomfortable. Nonetheless, they were fun days and I got pretty decent at reading people and getting them to trust me. I was better at getting their trust when I was earnest rather than…